Robert Downey Jr. is making a triumphant comeback to the Marvel superhero universe after a five-year absence, but not as his beloved Iron Man. Instead, he will play Dr. Victor Von Doom, one of comics’ most legendary villains.
Downey Jr. will make a reappearance in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, which is planned to be released in May 2026. He is also planned to feature in the highly anticipated Marvel blockbuster Secret Wars, which will be released the following year.
The thrilling news was presented during Comic Con in San Diego, when new Marvel franchise stars were introduced to excited fans. Downey Jr. made a dramatic arrival on stage, hiding behind Doctor Doom’s trademark mask and green cloak before revealing his true identity to the enthusiastic audience.
When chatting with reporters, Downey Jr. expressed his excitement for the job, adding, “I like playing complicated characters.”
At 59 years old, Downey Jr. remains a key presence in the Marvel film universe. He played Iron Man in 2008, which helped launch the franchise. His latest Marvel film cameo was in the 2019 blockbuster Avengers: Endgame.
This year, Downey Jr. received an Oscar for his amazing performance in Oppenheimer.
Marvel has ambitious plans, with three more films set to be released in 2025 before the Avengers make their return to the big screen. Captain America: Brave New World will feature Harrison Ford taking over the role of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, previously played by the late William Hurt. Florence Pugh is set to lead in Thunderbolts, while Pedro Pascal will make his Marvel debut in The Fantastic 4: First Steps.
Disney’s Marvel film series, which has grossed an astonishing $30 billion at the box office, is still the only brand to reach that milestone. However, profits have slowed in recent years. Nonetheless, the recent release of Deadpool and Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, has showed positive signals of a possible rebirth, grossing $96 million on its first day.
Last year, Marvel parted company with actor Jonathan Majors, who played the villain Kang the Conqueror, after his assault conviction.
To fans’ delight, Robert Downey Jr. hinted his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Doctor Doom, writing on Twitter, “New mask, same task.” Marvel Studios’ announcement has surely paved the way for an exciting new chapter in the MCU.
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